TULARE COUNTY — District Attorney Tim Ward has announced criminal charges against four individuals for starting the Pier Fire by burning a stolen car. The Pier Fire charred nearly 37,000 acres east of Springville, Calif., from Aug. 29 to Sept 24. Isiac Renteria, 19, Richard Renteria, 21, Osvaldo Esparza-Guerrero, 20, and Breane Ojeda, 21, were arrested on Oct. 24. All ...

YOSEMITE — Five fires continue to burn in the wilderness areas of Yosemite National Park, with a strong stable air mass over the area bringing warmer than normal temperatures and lower humidity. This has contributed to more fire activity and more smoke production as the 8,000-acre Empire Fire moved through some heavier fuels. The smoke has been flowing into Yosemite ...

CALIFORNIA — After one of the deadliest and most destructive weeks in California’s history, firefighters are prepared for another significant wind event in Southern California. Some 4,300 firefighters remain on the front lines of 9 active wildfires, many of which are projected to be fully contained by the end of the week. Firefighters continue to extinguish hot spots and perform ...

OAKHURST — Just before noon today, Jennifer Christenson was traveling south on Highway 41, leaving Oakhurst and heading up Deadwood toward Coarsegold. Just south of Victoria Lane, she saw what none of us ever wants to see. “There was a big plume of smoke and I thought, ‘Gosh what an idiot! Who’s doing the burn pile right now?” Jennifer was about ...

CALIFORNIA — Cooling temperatures this week could help firefighters continue to make progress on 13 large wildfires burning in the State, while the number of fatalities due to fire has increased by one since our last report. The death toll rose to 42 yesterday, after authorities located another victim of the Tubbs Fire in Sonoma County. Meanwhile, the identity of a ...

CALIFORNIA — While progress continues to be made on fires burning in the state, with containment percentages on the rise and more evacuations lifted, one additional death is confirmed. A private water tender driver assigned to the Nuns Fire died in a vehicle rollover on Oakville Grade in Napa County, according to a statement from Cal Fire. That brings the total ...

CALIFORNIA — Firefighters beat back flames on several fronts overnight, as crews worked to prepare for gusty winds. Some Red Flag Warnings have now been lifted, and containment numbers have dramatically increased on some of the fires, while crews continue the effort to locate and identify those who have perished. Tragically, the death toll has now risen to 40, and officials ...

CALIFORNIA — As strong winds remain in the forecast near the fires burning in Northern California, crews continue the grim task of locating and identifying those who perished in the flames. The death toll has now risen to 31 across 4 fires, and officials expect that number to climb as hundreds are still unaccounted for. Overnight firefighters continued their battle ...

CALIFORNIA — As more than 8,000 firefighters continue to battle 21 wildfires across the state, the death toll continues to rise. Four fires in northern California have claimed 23 lives as of 9 a.m. today. Hundreds more people are still reported as missing, as officials attempt to account for those individuals. Thousands remain without power, and more than 20,000 people ...

YOSEMITE — Yosemite National Park is preparing for two prescribed burns in the next week, and are expressing their gratitude to the local Firewise communities who support the use of prescribed fire. “Given the long summer of wildfires this year, the park appreciates your understanding that prescribed fires also have a place on our landscapes during the fall, winter, and ...